There were two kinds of ladies that lived in the Civil War. There were the wealthy ladies, and there were the common ladies. The wealthier ladies often changed five or six times a day. They had a morning dress, which was plain, a midday dress, which was more elaborate but still plain, a walking dress, which was heavier for the cold weather and comfortable to walk in, and finally an evening dress which was low-cut and party suitable. Their outfits consisted of four or five layers. The first layer was a pair of light cotton pants and a chemise, which is a long shirt.
This is a portrait of a wealthy woman during the Civil War
They also wore stockings, which were held up by garters. The second layer was a corset on top and either a hoopskirt, a crinoline, or one or two dark petticoats. The third layer consisted of a petticoat bodice, a corset cover, or a camisole. The fourth layer was a bodice, and a skirt held up with suspenders. The ladies often had a fifth layer for when they were going out, for example they would wear either a shawl or a jacket, gloves or mittens, button up boots, a fan, a bonnet or hat and a bag or purse. They also sometimes carried pocket watch and a handkerchief in their purses. Common women only changed two or three times a day and reserved their nicest dresses for going out into town, visiting people and for Sundays at church. Women believed that a well-respected woman never wore makeup, only tramps did. They did, at times, carry smelling salts in case they would ever faint. The women, wealthy or common, always wore some sort of hat or bonnet, not just for an accessory but also to keep their fair complexion from the sun. Wealthy women wore their hair up in a bun, little girls in curls and teenagers the front up and the back down in curls, because they were neither a woman nor a child.
A group of Union soldiers
A Union soldier's uniform
Union Soldier's Clothing
Union soldiers’ uniforms were made out of wool. The uniform consisted of a dark blue shirt and dark blue pants, which changed to sky blue in 1862. The wool of the uniform was very high quality and kept the soldiers warm in the winter. Unfortunately, it also kept them warm and itchy in the summer, so they were forced to wear cotton shirts and underwear from home underneath their uniforms.They wore shoes called Brogans that laced up over the ankle, and often wore gaiters over to keep their legs dry from the mud, rain, and snow. The hats that they wore were very significant because they represented which regiment that a soldier was in. A soldier had to be quite strong, for they had to carry about thirty to forty pounds of gear everyday
Confederate Soldier's Clothing
A Confederate general's uniform
The Confederate soldier’s uniforms were not very official compared to the Union uniforms. They were all homemade and dyed differently. The officers and some soldiers wore grey uniforms. The majority of the uniforms were shades of brown and khaki. The soldiers typically wore short waist jackets and heavy denim pants. Shoes were made in the South and wore down very quickly because of all of the marching that the soldiers had to do from one battlefield to another.
Confederate soldier
The Confederates also carried less equipment than the Union did. They did, however, carry the same equipment as the Union did because they often stole shoes and other pieces of clothing from captured and killed Union soldiers. Taking uniforms from the Union soldiers proved to be dangerous because their fellow soldiers often mistook them for being the other side. It was good also, because they could sneak into the Union camps and spy. The way that the soldiers could distinguish the difference between a soldier and a general is the generals wore eagles on their buttons and the common soldiers didn't. Nurse's Clothing Dorothea Dix, who was in charge of the female nurses in the north made a strict rule stating that no woman could be nurse if she was under thirty years old. She also said that the nurses had to be plain looking and their dresses’ must be brown or black, nothing fancy. The nurses were not allowed to have curls on their dresses, wear jewelry and absolutely could not wear hoopskirts underneath their dresses.
A nurse in the Civil War
Children's Clothing
New clothing for children was hard to find in the South and so most clothes had altered hems that had room for growth. If a child outgrew their clothing, they often got older sibling's older clothing and wore than instead of buying new because it was hard to find. Most parents that that it was fashionable for children to be dresses like little adults, or in the same fashion as their parents. Farm boys, wore heavy course and durable clothes and no shoes because they were hard to afford. They also wore pants and jackets that were made of either canvas or denim and cotton shirts, suspenders, woolen vests, and wide-brimmed straw hats to protect their faces from the sun. Wealthier boys, or city boys often would wear loose dark suits, a white dress shirt underneath and bowties. Their jackets were waist length and buttoned at the top. Their shoes were low cut and leather. In warmer weather, they were allowed to were short pants, or shorts. For their hair, it was a must that it was neatly cut, and they often wore silk tall hats or beaver fur hats. Girls wore long cotton or linsey woolsey dresses that buttoned all the way up to the throat. They wore simple cotton bonnets to protect their faces from the sun and their had their hair cut until they were nine years old. When they were ten years old, they were allowed to wear their hair up. Wearing their hair up mean that the girl was older and more mature.
Two brothers and their sister
Names and Uses of Clothing
Lady's often wore many layers of different types of clothing to be more fashionable. (see Lady's Clothing) Pantalets- made out of cotton, go under dress (bottom half of body) Chemise-goes under dress (torso) Stockings-go on feet (usually held up by garters) Corset-like a chemise, but strapless Crinolines-mixture of linen and horsehair, used for stiff petticoats, used tin inflate skirt Hoop Skirt- metal shaped skirt under dress to make dress big and poofy Jewlery- earings, necklaces, bracelets, rings Hats and Bonnets-to cover head from sun, wind, rain and snow Hairpieces-accesory Caps and Shawls-to keep warm, fashionable Purses-to carry accessories Petticoat-skirt
"Visit Gettysburg." Visit Gettysburg, Historical Battlefields and Small Town Charm. Site Build It! Web. 17 May 2011. <http://www.visit-gettysburg.com/>.
"CONFEDERATE GENERALS' UNIFORMS." The WTV Zone - A WebTV Friendly Homepage and Website Provider Where Webtv Users Can Build Websites and Homepages with Little Restriction - Web Tv Users Welcome! Web. 17 May 2011. <http://www.wtv-zone.com/civilwar/confgen.html>.
· Pantalets-made out cotton, go under dress(bottom half of body)
· Chemise-goes under dress (torso)
· Stockings-go on feet
· Corsets-like a chemise, but strapless
· Crinolines-mixture of linen and horsehair, used for stiff petticoats, used to inflate skirt,
· Hoop slips-another skirt under the petticoat
· Over slips
· Jewelry-earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings
· Hats and bonnets- to cover head from wind, rain, sun etc.
· Hairpieces-for accessorizing, fashionable
· Capes and shawls-to keep warm, more fashionable than a jacket
· Purses-to carry accessories
· Petticoat- the over dress, the dress seen by all
Wealthy women changed for morning, evening, midday, walks etc.
Morning dresses were plain
Evening dressers were low cut and party suitable
Walking dresses more comfortable to walk in
Working women more to three everyday dresses
One Sunday dress (very nice, best outfit)
Had certain dresses just for going out or visiting people
Lady’s also wore ball gowns and day dresses during this time.
LAYERS:
Layer ONE:
Drawers(pantalets) –linen and trimmed with lace (cotton)
Chemise: long undershirt usually made out of linen
Stockings help up with garters
Layer TWO:
Corset
Crinoline, hoopskirt, or one or two petticoats (dark)
Layer THREE:
Petticoat bodice, corset cover, or camisole
Layer FOUR:
Bodice,
Skirt(held up with suspenders)
Belt
Slippers
Layer FIVE:
Shawl, jacket
Gloves or mittens
Button up boots
Parasol
Bonnet or hat
Bag or purse
Handkerchief
Fan
Watch pocket
Well respected ladys never used makeup
Did carry smelling salts sometimes (for perfume)
Hair and Hats:
Wore hats to keep complection- did not want to get tan or burned at all
Women (victorian..well off)wore their hair up
Little girls wore it down in curls
Teenagers wore the front half up and curls in the back
Standard civil war hair for grown women were straight middle part combed over ears secured in a bun or chignon in back
Sometimes put lace net in hair called snood
Mens clothing: UNION UNIFORMS:
Made up wool
Dark blue shirt
Four brass buttons
Wool was high-quality
Warm in winter itchy and hot in the summer
Many men wore cotton shirts and underwear from home under
Cotton was southern product and more scarce during the war but the north still manged to get some
The pants were also dark blue until 1862 when they were sky blue
Held up with suspenders
Shoes called brogans laced up over the ankle
Often wore gaiters to keep legs dry
The hat was stiff wool had the symbol of the regiment that the man belonged to
Cavalry men wore high boots for riding and a wider hat
Infanrtry men carried muzzle loader guns
Over left shoulder soldier carried box of amo
Carried pouch of food and water
Extra clothing
Usually carried thirty to forty pounds of gear
Confederate Uniforms:
Not very official
Homemade and dyed differently
Officers and some soldiers wore grey
Majority wore shades of brown and khaki
Typically wore short waisted jackets
Heavy cotton denim pants
Cotton shirts and undergarments were sent from family members at home
Cotton was a southern product but the factories that produced things like cloth and shoes were located in the south
Shoes made in the south wore down quickly because of all the marching
Carried less equipment than the union
Carried equipment that they stole from captured union soldiers such as: shoes and other clothing
The Union uniforms influenced uniforms
Taking uniforms from the Union was proven to be dangerous because their fellow soldiers mistook them for being
But Falso good because can spy on enemy
Generals had eagles on their buttons
NURSES CLOTHING:
Lots of downtown buildings were used as Civil War Hospitals
Dorothea Dix was in Charge of female nurses in the North and said: “ NO woman under thirty years need apply to serve in the government hospitals. All nurses are required to be very plain-looking women. Their dresses must be brown or black with no curls, no jewelry, and no hoop skirts.”
CHILDREN:
New clothing for kids was hard to find in the south
most clothes had hems that allowed room for the kids to grow
Older children gave the younger children their old clothes
Most parents thought that the children should be dressed like little adults
Farm boys wore heavy course and durable clothes
Pants and jackets were made of canvas or denim fabrics
Also wore cotton shirts, suspenders, woolen vests, wide-brimmed straw hats
Country boys basically wore no shoes in the summer and lowcut leather boots in the city
Wealthy boys would wear dark suits(loose) a white dress shirt underneath and bow ties
Jackets were waist length and buttoned at the top
In warm weather boys often wore short pants (shorts)
Neatly cut hair=MUST
Wore silk tall hats OR fur hats (beaver)
Young men wore short visors
GIRLS:
Long dresses made of cotton or linsey Woolsey
Dresses buttoned all the way up to the throat
Simple cotton bonnets to protect from sun
Hair cut until nine ten years old
Wearing hair up meant girl was older and mature
Dresses were mid calf
Full grown women wore lace corsets but girls used girdle or belt in stead
Table of Contents
Clothing in the Civil War
By Serena Saini
Lady's Clothing
There were two kinds of ladies that lived in the Civil War. There were the wealthy ladies, and there were the common ladies. The wealthier ladies often changed five or six times a day. They had a morning dress, which was plain, a midday dress, which was more elaborate but still plain, a walking dress, which was heavier for the cold weather and comfortable to walk in, and finally an evening dress which was low-cut and party suitable. Their outfits consisted of four or five layers. The first layer was a pair of light cotton pants and a chemise, which is a long shirt.Women believed that a well-respected woman never wore makeup, only tramps did. They did, at times, carry smelling salts in case they would ever faint. The women, wealthy or common, always wore some sort of hat or bonnet, not just for an accessory but also to keep their fair complexion from the sun. Wealthy women wore their hair up in a bun, little girls in curls and teenagers the front up and the back down in curls, because they were neither a woman nor a child.
Union Soldier's Clothing
Union soldiers’ uniforms were made out of wool. The uniform consisted of a dark blue shirt and dark blue pants, which changed to sky blue in 1862. The wool of the uniform was very high quality and kept the soldiers warm in the winter. Unfortunately, it also kept them warm and itchy in the summer, so they were forced to wear cotton shirts and underwear from home underneath their uniforms.They wore shoes called Brogans that laced up over the ankle, and often wore gaiters over to keep their legs dry from the mud, rain, and snow. The hats that they wore were very significant because they represented which regiment that a soldier was in. A soldier had to be quite strong, for they had to carry about thirty to forty pounds of gear everydayConfederate Soldier's Clothing
Nurse's Clothing
Dorothea Dix, who was in charge of the female nurses in the north made a strict rule stating that no woman could be nurse if she was under thirty years old. She also said that the nurses had to be plain looking and their dresses’ must be brown or black, nothing fancy. The nurses were not allowed to have curls on their dresses, wear jewelry and absolutely could not wear hoopskirts underneath their dresses.
Children's Clothing
New clothing for children was hard to find in the South and so most clothes had altered hems that had room for growth. If a child outgrew their clothing, they often got older sibling's older clothing and wore than instead of buying new because it was hard to find. Most parents that that it was fashionable for children to be dresses like little adults, or in the same fashion as their parents. Farm boys, wore heavy course and durable clothes and no shoes because they were hard to afford. They also wore pants and jackets that were made of either canvas or denim and cotton shirts, suspenders, woolen vests, and wide-brimmed straw hats to protect their faces from the sun. Wealthier boys, or city boys often would wear loose dark suits, a white dress shirt underneath and bowties. Their jackets were waist length and buttoned at the top. Their shoes were low cut and leather. In warmer weather, they were allowed to were short pants, or shorts. For their hair, it was a must that it was neatly cut, and they often wore silk tall hats or beaver fur hats.Girls wore long cotton or linsey woolsey dresses that buttoned all the way up to the throat. They wore simple cotton bonnets to protect their faces from the sun and their had their hair cut until they were nine years old. When they were ten years old, they were allowed to wear their hair up. Wearing their hair up mean that the girl was older and more mature.
Names and Uses of Clothing
Lady's often wore many layers of different types of clothing to be more fashionable. (see Lady's Clothing)Pantalets- made out of cotton, go under dress (bottom half of body)
Chemise-goes under dress (torso)
Stockings-go on feet (usually held up by garters)
Corset-like a chemise, but strapless
Crinolines-mixture of linen and horsehair, used for stiff petticoats, used tin inflate skirt
Hoop Skirt- metal shaped skirt under dress to make dress big and poofy
Jewlery- earings, necklaces, bracelets, rings
Hats and Bonnets-to cover head from sun, wind, rain and snow
Hairpieces-accesory
Caps and Shawls-to keep warm, fashionable
Purses-to carry accessories
Petticoat-skirt
Bibliography:
Digital image. Web. <http://niahd.wm.edu/attachments/33492.jpg>."Visit Gettysburg." Visit Gettysburg, Historical Battlefields and Small Town Charm. Site Build It! Web. 17 May 2011. <http://www.visit-gettysburg.com/>.
Digital image. Web. <http://mrgrosky.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/union-soldier-re-enactment.jpg>.
"CONFEDERATE GENERALS' UNIFORMS." The WTV Zone - A WebTV Friendly Homepage and Website Provider Where Webtv Users Can Build Websites and Homepages with Little Restriction - Web Tv Users Welcome! Web. 17 May 2011. <http://www.wtv-zone.com/civilwar/confgen.html>.
Digital image. Web. <http://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-oldwest/ConfederateSoldier.jpg>.
Digital image. Web. <http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QjRD1qokf6E/TEhzw9Hmh8I/AAAAAAAACk8/D8dNTMI85R4/s640/70020-main_Full.jpg>.
Digital image. Web. <http://www.boingboing.net/images/_packages_images_opinion_20090330_MORRIS_Pic01-Humiston-Children.jpg>.
Notes:
Ladys Clothing:
- · Wore lots of pieces of clothing:
- · Pantalets-made out cotton, go under dress(bottom half of body)
- · Chemise-goes under dress (torso)
- · Stockings-go on feet
- · Corsets-like a chemise, but strapless
- · Crinolines-mixture of linen and horsehair, used for stiff petticoats, used to inflate skirt,
- · Hoop slips-another skirt under the petticoat
- · Over slips
- · Jewelry-earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings
- · Hats and bonnets- to cover head from wind, rain, sun etc.
- · Hairpieces-for accessorizing, fashionable
- · Capes and shawls-to keep warm, more fashionable than a jacket
- · Purses-to carry accessories
- · Petticoat- the over dress, the dress seen by all
- Wealthy women changed for morning, evening, midday, walks etc.
- Morning dresses were plain
- Evening dressers were low cut and party suitable
- Walking dresses more comfortable to walk in
- Working women more to three everyday dresses
- One Sunday dress (very nice, best outfit)
- Had certain dresses just for going out or visiting people
- Lady’s also wore ball gowns and day dresses during this time.
- LAYERS:
- Layer ONE:
- Drawers(pantalets) –linen and trimmed with lace (cotton)
- Chemise: long undershirt usually made out of linen
- Stockings help up with garters
- Layer TWO:
- Corset
- Crinoline, hoopskirt, or one or two petticoats (dark)
- Layer THREE:
- Petticoat bodice, corset cover, or camisole
- Layer FOUR:
- Bodice,
- Skirt(held up with suspenders)
- Belt
- Slippers
- Layer FIVE:
- Shawl, jacket
- Gloves or mittens
- Button up boots
- Parasol
- Bonnet or hat
- Bag or purse
- Handkerchief
- Fan
- Watch pocket
- Well respected ladys never used makeup
- Did carry smelling salts sometimes (for perfume)
- Hair and Hats:
- Wore hats to keep complection- did not want to get tan or burned at all
- Women (victorian..well off)wore their hair up
- Little girls wore it down in curls
- Teenagers wore the front half up and curls in the back
- Standard civil war hair for grown women were straight middle part combed over ears secured in a bun or chignon in back
- Sometimes put lace net in hair called snood
Mens clothing:UNION UNIFORMS:
Confederate Uniforms: